Fully automatic washing machines



p 7, 1963 w. HOLZER 3,104,292

FULLY AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES Filed llay 19. 1960 CONTROL FORWASHING/worm SPIN MOTOR VALVES HEATING I N VEN TOR WALTER HOLZER WM AWAttorneys United States Patent 3,104,292 FULLY AUTOMATIC WASHINGMACHINES Walter Holler, Drosteweg 19, Meersburg (Bodensee),

' Baden, Germany Filed May 19, 1960, 821'. No. 30,328 Claims priority,application Germany June 15, 1959 5 Claims. (Cl. 20046) The inventionconcerns a fully automatic washing machine with perforated cards whichcan be put in and which correspond to the washing programme.

The object of the present invention is to construct the control in sucha way that a programme storer is present on which the various washingprogrammes exist, and the perforated cards are present only astransmitters which then select the corresponding programme on the storerdisc. just as a particular record is selected in an automatic phonographby pressing buttons, which record is then played; thus by means of theselection of a definite perforated card, this card'should then act asthe transmittcr or selector for the programme storer which then actuatesthe actuating member of the washing machine according to the programmeselected from the perforated card transmitter.

Washing machines are known in which the course of the programme isdefined by perforated cards. In these known arrangements. however, theinterposition of a programme storer is omitted and the perforated cardsthemselves present the actual pro-gramme to a certain extent, in that.in each case according to the number of perforations and the length ofthese perforations, the washing programme runs off and their productioninhibiting difiiculties consist in the fact that the perforated cardsmust be conveyed dependent upon time, and the programme is switched inaccordance with appropriate sensing of the perforations.

An object of the invention is to avoid these disadvantages and toconstruct the control in such a way that the perforated card only actsas the transmitter; the actual time dependent programme which is beingrun off is, however, disposed in the programme storer in which the mostvaried washing programmes are provided or, on the basis of theperforated card transmitter, different long procedures are withdrawnfrom the storer such as washing. rinsing. opening the inlet valve,setting the temperature. centrifuging in order to be able to compose thewashing programme.

According to the present invention a fully automatic washing machinecomprises an insertable card provided with a plurality of perforationsdefining a washing programme. characterised in that sensing contacts areadapted to actuate a circuit which is constructed as a programme storerand controls a partial programme run-off corresponding to theperforations and after the run-off is adapted to move the perforatedcard further on.

Sensing contacts seek out the selected programme by means of actuationof the switch mechanism, and after the programme has been run off theperforated card is conveyed further.

The switching mechanism constructed as the programme storer shouldactuate time dependent or measured quantity dependent contacts whichswitch individual procedures such as centrifuge motor, washing motor,heating. liquor height. valves. temperature, etc.

The time dependency which, in known arrangements, was based on theconveyance of the perforated card is now transferred to the programmestorer. The most varied-individual procedures with the most variedswitching times can be arranged on the programme storer and, byselection of the momentarily desired individual procedure, the programmeis then composed.

Patented Sept.'17 1963 The switching mechanism may consist of a controldisc with concentric cam tracks on which sensing contacts may slide,whereby the control disc, corresponding to the perforation of theperforated card, is rotated into the appropriately preselected positionby a known type control drive.

Such a switching mechanism which switches forward a control disc withconcentric switch cam tracks may be produced accurately by massproduction methods and, if the most varied control discs are present orindividual procedures with different times, temperature, liquor heightand so on are provided by actuation of the appropriate heating, inletand outlet valves, then it becomes possible to select the parts on theprogramme storer, by an appropriate perforation of the perforated card,which are directly required. One is not therefore tied to a fixedpredetermined programme, but the housewife may herself, dependent uponthe circumstances, achieve extensions or abbreviations of the washingtime, the heating time and so on, by perforation of the perforated card.The perforated card itself isin this case only sensed by a lever andremains in this sensing position for such a time until the control discor the programme storer has completed the selected programme section,then the perforated card is moved on.

It is now possible, therefore, to provide on one perforated card verylong times with short intervals, since the perforated cards are notmoved dependent upon time but dependent upon function, that is, in eachcase after termination of the preselected time section of the programmethey are moved on. Moreover, they-now no longer need to be constructedvery accurately but it suffices if apertures are provided in theaforementioned tracks in which the sensing levers are situated, sincethe perforated card is always moved on to such an extent that any one ofthe sensing levers reaches an aperture, then the forward movement of theperforated card ceases and the forward movement is not recommenced againuntil the programme storer has sorted out a selected programme sectionand has carried it out.

In this connection it is possible for the control disc to run off withuniform speed, and to have differing lengths of switching cam tracks orthe like for the same procedure, for example, washing for 3, 5, 7, 9minutes, liquor height for A, /2, /1, l/l, filling temperature for 20,40, 60, rinsing for 1, 2, 3, heating etc.

Preferably the perforated cards receive apertures in previously markedtracks by means of a known type perforating pliers.

In order to preserve a sensing lever, it is preferable that beforemoving the perforated card on the next contact making of the subsequentaperature the sensing levers are raised by means of a device known initself.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of symbols showing how theindividual switching members co-operate;

FIG. 2 is a schematic layout of a programme storer disc;

FIG. 3 is a view of a perforated card; and

FIG. 4 is an alternative form of perforated card.

In FIG. 1 a block 1 represents symbolically a perforated cardtransmitter, a block 2 is the programme storer and a block 3 is theWashing or vessel rinsing machine. There are connecting conduits 4between the blocks 1, 2 and 3 whose functional dependency should beclear wherein, dependent upon circumstances, both mechanical and/ orelectrical connections are possible.

From the block 1 it is evident that a perforated card 5 which is movedin the direction of the arrow co-operates with sensing levers 6. Thesesensing lovers 6, which are disposed adjacent one another in many rows,actuate the switching on and off of a drive motor 10. The motor 10serves to drive both, a wiper 31 for scanning a disc 8, and a controldisc 9.. This motor 10 may be of the type employed in my Patent3,041,480 and has a field 10b and an axially movable rotor 10a. Thus,there is a pinion 32 alternatingly engaging and disengaging gear 33driving the wiper 31.

The scanning levers 6 are, for example, connected in dividually toscannable tracks 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d on disc 8. These tracks may becontact segments on an insulating plate such as is disclosed for thedisc 9 (FIG. 2 infra). Thus, there is an energization circuit completedfor motor 10 whenever a particular lever 6 is in a hole 26 in cardcontacting contact rail 4-1 and as long as any of the contacts 31a, 31b,31c and 31d of wiper 31 remains in contact with that track of disc 8connected to that lever 6 in the said hole. As shown, a lever identifiedby 60 engages rail 41 through a hole. Accordingly, motor receivescurrent through track 8c and wiper 31c.

The motor 10 runs until wiper contact 31c leaves this last-mentionedtrack 80. When this happens, the energization circuit is interrupted,and the then available energization circuit for motor 10 runs overresistor 34 (see resistor 17 of my Patent 3,041,480). This routing ofthe current causes a partial de-energization and the rotor 10a moves sothat pinion 32 disengages from gear 33. Upon rotation, as aforesaid,disc 8 and program disc 9 rotate in unison. When rotor 10a of motor 10is shifted, disc 9 may, for example, follow this axial shift thus cominginto engagement with scanning contacts 11. This is attained at aparticular angular position of control disc 9 as being determined by theposition at which disc 8 was stopped which in turn was determined by theparticular lever 6 in a particular hole of punched card 5.

Now, the program starts upon continued rotation of disc 9 now beingdriven alone by motor 10 but operating upon contacts 11. These contacts11 scan disc 9 and cause initiation and completion of certain stepswithin the washing machine. (See block.) Disc 9 with contacts 11, forexample, may cooperate and be designed as is shown in my Patent3,032,617. A further example is shown in FIG. 2 (infra).

The disc 9 may be provided with a cam or special track, defining the endof the program thereon. When disc 9 has attained a position, cam 25produces a completion pulse, for example, by temporatrily closingcontacts 35 which thus connect a motor 18 to voltage source 36. Motor'18 drives a pinion 37 meshing with a rack 38 for transporting card 5.Upon energization of motor 18, a coil 44 receives current from source36, and coil 44 attracts an armature 43 on a rail 42. The feelercontacts 6 are resiliently mounted on the rail 42 by means of leafsprings 45, and they are lifted when armature 43 is attracted by theenergized coil 44. Thus, during card transport, any feeler 6 is beinglifted out of any hole 26, respectively. Motor 18 also drives a cutoutdisc 39 operating upon contacts 40. The contacts 40 are normally open,but once motor 18 is being started by disc 9, there is a holding circuitprovided by the closing of contacts 40 when cutout disc 39 moves out ofresting position. After completion of one revolution, card 5 has beenmoved by one step, and motor 18 stops since the cutout opens contacts40. The feelers 6 are lowered again and one will drop into a hole inpunched card 5. It is pointed out, that the mode of driving motor 18 byone step is, for example disclosed in my Patent 3, 046,421. (The programdisc 22 of this patent corresponds presently to the stepwise moved card5, and the starting and stopping of motor 15 of that patent iscontrolled similarly by a disc 3 and a cutout disc 32 thereof.)

After card 5 has been transported by one step another lever 6 will makeconnection with contact rail 41 thus overbridging resistor 34 so that again armature total 10a is shifted axially into a position whereinpinion 32 meshes with gear 33 and disc 8 is being driven until thelast-mentioned driving circuit is interrupted again.

FIG. 2 shows one possible construction of the' programme storer. In thiscase a printed circuit can be used and in each case, according to theposition into which the control disc 9 is rotated by the sensing levers6 or by the drive 10 over the impulse disc 8, the contacts 11 thensense, for example, on a contact track 19 correspondin g to the lengthof this contact track, a washing procedure of, for example, two minutes;then a pause takes place; a further switching track 21 has a lengthcorresponding to the rinsing procedure, then a larger pause occurs and afinal contact track 23 determines the centrifuging procedure and again,after the pause, a contact track 25 is provided which can be consideredas the indication of completion and applies voltage to the drive 18until this drive is again stopped by self-operated switching when thenext sensing levers 6 are closed by appropriately disposed perforationsin the perforated card 5.

The most varied programme storer discs 5 with the most varied lengths ofwashing, rinsing, centrifuging and heating, etc., can now be providedand in each case dependent upon the choice of these discs the programmeis then composed. Moreover, the control discs 13 or programme storerdiscs can be driven with uniform speed or, however, the disc itself canswitch itself on to different speeds by way of the drive 10.

FIG. 3 shows a perforated card 5 as is used in the perforated cardtransmitter 1 of rectangular form. In this case it is equallysatisfactory whether the perforations be circular or angular, short orlong, as has already been explained the movement of the perforated cardtakes place dependent upon function and not upon time. With thisperforated card, for example, the upper line can determine the washing,the lower line rinsing, the line below that centrifuging, and the stilllower line temperatures 35", and beneath that liquor heights, and ineach case according to the contacts which close with the countercontacts in the perforations, the contacts sensing the programme storerdisc are energised and with this actuate the individual programmeswitching by way of the resistance combinations which, for their part,are responsible for the time-wise run-0E of the programme switching,that is, the programme switch runs slowly if long times are switched inand can also run over or cross switch sections if a greater runningspeed occurs by reason of the resistance combination switched into thedriving motor of the programme switch.

FIG. 4 shows a circular perforated card which can likewise be used inthe perforated card transmitter. The

sensing levers are in this case appropriately arranged in anothermanner. With this the perforated card 7 can be used in the perforatedcard transmitter 1 instead of the perforated card 5. A

All possiblities are included within the scope of the application of theinvention in which, by means of perforated card which indeed may be madeby hand, it is de sired to predetermine a washing programme in alldetails, and this fully automatic control should be possible with aminimum expenditure in manufacturing and adjustment.

I claim:

1. Control device for fully automatic washing machines, comprising: aperforated card contact means sensing said perforations and producing anoutput responsive to predetermined combinations thereof; a devicestoring program sections, each section including time-dependent andfunctionally related program steps and being identified by perforationsof said card; circuit means connected to said contact means, responsiveto the output thereof and selecting a corresponding program section;further circuit means responsive to the content of said programsections; and means of advancing said card after run-off of a selectedprogram section.

2. A fully automatic washing machine, comprising: an insertable cardprovided with a plurality of perforations defining sections of washingprograms; a storage device of program sections; contacts sensing saidperforations; circuit means responsive to the sensing of said contactsand activating a program section corresponding to the perforationssensed; and means for moving the perforated card after run-off of aprogram section.

3. A fully automatic washing machine as claimed in claim 2, said programstorage device comprising a control cam disc with concentric switch camtracks; sensing contacts adapted to slide over said tracks; drivingmeans rotating said control disc in correspondence to the perforation ofthe perforated card into the appropriately preselected position.

4. A fully automatic washing machine as claimed in claim 2, said programstorage device comprising a control disc rotated at uniform speed andhaving switch cam tracks of different length associated to the sameprocedure, selected from the following group of procedures, washing forthree, five, seven, nine minutes, liquid height for a quarter, half,three-quarters, 1/ 1 state of filling, filling temperature for C., C.,C., C., and rinsing for a first, a second, a third rinsing.

5. A fully automatic washing machine as claimed in claim 2 comprising:means for lifting said sensing levers before the perforated card ismoved on to its next contact making position of the followingperforation selecting the next program section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,003,852 Beattie June 4, 1935

2. A FULLY AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE, COMPRISING: AN INSERTABLE CARDPROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF PERFORATIONS DEFINING SECTIONS OF WASHINGPROGRAMS; A STORAGE DEVICE OF PROGRAM SECTIONS; CONTACTS SENSING SAIDPERFORATIONS; CIRCUIT MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE SENSING OF SAID CONTACTSAND ACTIVATING A PROGRAM SECTION CORRESPONDING TO